Buffalo Bills News - March 5, 2002

Second guessers make their points [9:34 PM]Buffalo Business First reports:
@ Outside Western New York, Buffalo is best known these days for snowstorms, chicken wings and a pair of professional sports teams. But anyone who has spent more than a week a or two here, knows that second guessing is really the region's forté. Orchard Park has been home for the Buffalo Bills since 1973, but a segment of the second-guessing population still talks about impact a city football stadium would have had.

Fletcher meets with Bills over starting linebacker's job [7:26 PM]AP reports:
'Fletcher's agent Anthony Paige said his client is keenly interested in playing for the Bills, who have a starting job available and have a defensive-minded head coach in Gregg Williams, a former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator.'

2002 Bills don't get you excited [1:27 PM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'There's pretty much no reason to be excited about the 2002 Bills. Worse, at least right now, the current team isn't nearly as good as the one Donahoe inherited.'

Farrior patient while Jets entertain OLBs [9:06 AM]Bergen Record reports:
'Cowart, who spent his first four NFL seasons with Buffalo, will meet today and possibly Wednesday with Bradway, coach Herman Edwards, and defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, his coordinator with the Bills.'

Bills set to meet with Fletcher [8:16 AM]WGRZ-TV reports:
'While the Bills clearly have far more room to manuever under the salary cap now than they did this time a year ago, Fletcher's asking price may be too high anyway. But the fact the Bills are apparently going to the trouble to fly him in and talk to him could signal they are looking for options in their talks with Cowart, who is coming off an achilles injury.'

Jets Shopping for LBs [8:15 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'Keeping all options open, the team has scheduled free-agent visits with Sam Cowart today and Shawn Barber on Thursday. Cowart, 27, thrived in Buffalo's 3-4 defense under Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, but missed all but one game last season with an Achilles injury. One of his agents, Gene Burroughs, said Cowart is ready to pass a physical. If healthy, Cowart is an attractive option.'

Bucs' No. 2 guy risky pick for Falcons [8:14 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'Now, don't misunderstand our point. Ruskell isn't an awful choice for the Falcons. He just isn't the best choice, especially since Tom Modrak and his decades of experience when it comes to player personnel decisions is only a phone call away with the Buffalo Bills.'

Texans, Johnson near deal [5:21 AM]Houston Chronicle reports:
'"Coming from the team I came from, (the Texans) already have a better offensive line, defensive line and secondary in place. That's very attractive. I know the offensive coordinator, and I'm very comfortable with him. I think my best years are ahead of me."'

March 4, 2002

Cowart heading for New Jersey? [10:56 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
@ LB Sam Cowart looks to be leaving Buffalo but may not be moving out of the state of New York. The Jersey Jets, who have been one of the busier teams early in free agency, will bring Cowart in Tuesday. The Bills maintain interest in bringing the 1998 second-round pick back. One player with a vested interest in where Cowart lands is LB James Farrior, who led the NFL in tackles with the Jets last season. Farrior?s destination of choice remains New York, but he?s unaware what level of interest the Jets have in bringing him back.

Texans appear ready to sign ex-Bills QB Johnson [8:13 PM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'If the Texans do sign Johnson, it would likely be a one-year deal for about $1 million, which may not sound like a lot of money, but it would give Johnson the chance to jumpstart his career again. The Texans would likely make him the starter ahead of rookie David Carr, who is almost certain to be their choice with the first pick in the April draft. The Texans would love to allow Carr a year to groom behind a veteran before turning over the starting job to him.'

Bills focusing on quarterback [12:27 PM]ESPN reports:
@ According to ESPN's John Clayton the Bills are pretty focused on signing quarterback Jeff Blake or [Jaguars] Jonathan Quinn. They haven't made any decision whether or not to show interest in Elvis Grbac.

Bills were willing to give 5th round draft pick for Blake [9:54 AM]The Sporting News reports:
@ The Bills were so interested in QB Jeff Blake that they were prepared to give the Saints a fifth-round pick for him. And Blake was so interested in playing for the Bills that he was willing to rework his contract. Knowing the Saints would release Blake anyway, the Bills backed out. Now that Blake has been released, he is expected to sign with the Bills.

Let the QB search begin [9:25 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
@ Now that Rob Johnson has left Buffalo, let's all look ahead. Johnson was given every opportunity to be the leading QB of the Bills.

Donahoe ready to move forward without Johnson [8:37 AM]AP reports:
'"It was our intention to try and work something out with Rob," he said. "Right from the beginning we wanted to work something out. If there's a guy in free agency who makes sense, we'll take a look at him. But we really like Alex."'

Johnson fits Texans' bill at QB [2:27 AM]Houston Chronicle reports:
'A source with the Bills who knows Johnson said over the weekend that money isn't the issue with him because he made $18.8 million at Buffalo. The issue with Johnson is working with a coach who likes, understands and respects him in a situation where he can repair his damaged reputation.'

March 3, 2002

RJ to get look by Texans? [9:20 PM]ESPN reports:
@ Look for the Houston Texans to bring quarterback Rob Johnson, released by the Bills last week, to town for a visit. The meeting could take place as early as Tuesday, when the Texans start to visit with between 8 to 10 unrestricted free agents. Houston offensive coordinator Chris Palmer had the same job in Jacksonville when Johnson played for the Jaguars and is familiar with him. But it doesn't appear Johnson, or any other veteran QB for that matter, is going to get rich by signing with Houston. The team has decided that Carr will play as a rookie and has budgeted just $1 million for a veteran backup.

Rob Never Did The Job [8:33 PM]WIVB-TV reports:
'In the NFL you're either a winner or a loser, and right now Johnson is a loser, until he proves otherwise.'

Bills hopeful for Cowart; looking at 2 ex-Titans [1:18 PM]Shout! reports:
@ The Bills are hoping that the unrestricted free agency market swings back into their favor with regards to middle linebacker Sam Cowart, just as it did with Ruben Brown two years ago. If not it appears they will turn toward ex-Titan players.

Tackles measure up at combine [9:27 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'McKinnie and Williams - the top two offensive linemen in the NFL draft this year - are the kind of behemoths that are rare even by the oversized standards of pro football.'

It's not a good time to be a free agent QB [9:25 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Considering how Johnson's situation had soured here - especially in the locker room where his teammates liked him but simply did not believe in him - it's probably a better career move for him.'

Thousands rally to Children's defense [9:22 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, shared the podium to praise the work of doctors at Children's Hospital in caring for their 5-year-old son, Hunter, who suffers from Krabbe disease, and their two daughters.'